108 SWINE PRACTICE 



Croupous Enteritis 



Croupous enteritis occurs in swine but is uncomnijon. 



Etiology. — Croupous enteritis may be the result of infection but 

 probably is more frequently caused by chemicals. Caustics or acids 

 may be protected by food within the stomach to be liberated in the 

 intestine where an intense inflammation would be established. 



Lesions. — The lesions of croupous enteritis consist primarily of 

 an intense inflammation in which there is a coagulated inflammatory 

 exudate adherent to the surface of the involved mucosa. The intesr 

 tinal wall will be found thicker and more dense than normal, due 

 to the inflammatory exudate in the submucosa and possibly also in 

 the muscular tissue. In the later stages the surface exudate may 

 become detached en masse and pass out with the feces. If the entire 

 mucosa is involved for some distance the eliminated exudate may 

 appear as a tube. 



Symptoms. — Uneasiness, colicky pains, drooping ears and tail, 

 increased thirst, inappetence and rise of temperature are the usual 

 manifestations of croupous enteritis. 



Diagnosis. — The history of the case combined with the symptoms 

 previously noted is sufficient evidence to establish a diagnosis of 

 inflammation of the intestine. The absence of retching or vomi- 

 tion excludes gastritis. The specific diagnosis of croupous enteritis 

 is possible only upon autopsy or the recognition of the croupous 

 exudate in the feces. 



Course. — The course of croupous enteritis is rapid, the disease 

 being acute. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis should be guarded, if the animal sur- 

 vives for two or three days the chances for recovery are good. 



Treatment. — Remove the cause if it still exists. "Withhold all 

 foods for 24 hours and then give only limited quantities of easily 

 digested concentrates in the form of slop. Substitute flax-seed tea 

 for water from the beginning. Ii^estinal antiseptics should be 

 incorporated in the flax-seed tea, and stimulants such as nux vomica 

 may also be given in the slop. 



Infectious Necrotic Enteritis 



This disease is of an infectious nature and is of such importance 

 that it is described in detail in the chapter on infectious diseases. 



